Artificial-ice skating-rink



(No Model.)

I. H. & W. M. JEWELL. ARTIFICIAL ICE SKATING RINK.

No. 462,316. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA II. JEVELL AND IVILLIAM M. .IEIVELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARTlFlClAL -ICE SKATING-RINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,316, dated November3, 1891.

Application filed March 23, 1891- Serial No. 386,104. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, IRA II. JEWELL and WILLIAM M. JEWELL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and StateofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inArtificial-Ice Skating-Rinks, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of the skatingrink, one side being removed. Fig. 2 is atop or plan view of the interior of the skatingrink.

Our invention relates to skating-rinks, and more particularly toskating-rinks adapted for ice-skating.

It is a well-known fact that in roller-skating rinks, which are alwaysinclosed halls, the skaters are very apt to become overheated andconsequently are very likely to take cold upon leaving the rink. Thefact that it is necessary in such rinks to chalk the floor of the rinkin order to prevent the slipping of the skates is also an objectionablefeature of rinks of this kind, as the chalk is disseminated throughoutthe air of the room in small particles and consequently is inhaled bythe skaters with evil results. It is also an established fact thataccidents are much more likely to occur in roller-skatingrinks than onice-skating ponds, which are also free from the noise incident toroller-skating rinks. These objectionable features are absent inice-skating, as the skaters generally exercise in a cool atmosphere inwhich there is always an abundant supply of fresh air.

The principal object of our invention is to avoid the objections commonto roller-skating rinks by providing an ice-skating rink which may beused at all seasons of the year.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved apparatusforfreezing artificial-ice skating-rinks, and for keeping them in goodcondition for skating purposes.

To accomplish these objects our invention involves the features ofconstruction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, A represents the interior of our improved skating-rink,of which E are the walls.

The rink A maybe provided with any suitable roof, which is not shown inthe drawings. The walls B rest upon foundations G, which may be of anysuitable construction.

The rink A is provided with a floor or bottom D. The floor D andfoundations O are designed to form a tank adapted to contain the wateror other liquid which it is intended to freeze to form theskating'surface. The floor D is constructed in the manner shown, beinghighest at the center and sloping gradually to opposite sides of therink, and is cemented so as to render it water-proof. It is provided atits lower edges near the wall or foundation with drains (Z, as bestshown in Fig. 1, by means of which the water or other liquid in the tankmay be drawn off when desired.

E represents a frame-work of iron, which is mounted at a short distanceabove the bottom 1) upon supports c, as shown in Fig. 1. The frame-workE extends horizontally across the rink, as best shown in Fig. 1, and isadapted to support tiles F, which are loosely placed thereon, asindicated in Fig. 2. The tiles F may be of some ornamental design to addto the appearance of the rink.

G indicates pipes adapted to conduct ammonia through the tank, whichpipes are placed in the tank in an inclined position, and extend from apoint immediately below the frame-work E at one side of the tank to thefloor of the opposite side of the tank, as best shown in Fig. 1, theincline of the pipes preferably being equal to that of the floor D. Thepipes G may be of any suitable number, the number being determined bythe size of the tank and the rapidity with which it is desired to freezethe water. The pipes may be connected with each other at each end by aT- joint, as shown. Ammonia is supplied from a suitable engine, and isintroduced into the pipes G at their upper ends, and is circulatedthrough the pipes and operates in the usual manner to freeze the waterin the tank. A suitable valve (not shown) is provided, by means of whichthe supply of ammonia may be cut off, when desired. a

II indicates steam-pipes, which are arranged in the tank in a manner inall respects similar to the ammonia-pipes G, except that they areinclined in the opposite direction, the steaminlet pipe beingimmediately below the fram ework E at the side of the tank opposite tothat atwhich the ammonia-inlet pipe is placed. The steam-pipes H mayalso be of any suitable number, and are connected at their upper endswith a steam-supply pipe, by means of which steam may be circulated fromany suitable source of supply through the pipes H. The steam-supply pipeis also provided with a valve, (not shown,) by means of which the supplyof steam may be out 01f or turned on when desired. The incline of thepipes G and H causes the ammonia and steam to fiow more easily throughthe pipes and renders it much easier to empty the pipes when desired.

It is designed to fill the tank with water or other liquid to a point afew inches above the surface of the tiles F, as indicated in Fig. 1;When it is desired to freeze the pond the steam-supply pipe is closedand the ammoniasupply is turned on and the ammonia is forced through thepipes G, whereby the liquid in the, tank is solidly frozen in the usualmanner. The rink may then be used for skating purposes until for anyreason the surface of the pond becomes rough or unfit for such use, whenthe ammonia-supply is cut off and the steam-supply is turned on. By thismeans the ice is quickly melted. As soon as the ice is melted theammonia-supply is again turned on, the steam being first cut off, andthe pond is again frozen, as before.

By the use of our invention we are thus enabled to provide askating-pond which can be made at all times suitable for skatingpurposes, as the time required for melting and freezing the pond iscomparatively short.

We are aware that it is common to use ammonia-pipes for freezing bodiesof water, and

1-. In a skating-rink, the combination, with a tank, of ammonia-pipesadapted to conduct ammonia through the contents of the tank, andsteam-pipes entirely disconnected from and having no communication withthe ammonia-pipes and adapted to conduct steam through said tank,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A skating-rink consisting of a building having a foundation and aflooring constituting a water-tank, ammonia-conducting pipes extendingin an inclined plane through the Water in the tank for freezing the sameto provide a skating-surface,- steam-conducting pipes extending in areverse inclined plane directly through the water in the tank to meltthe ice when formed for the subsequent refreezing of the water toprovide a smooth fresh skating-surface, substantially as described.

IRA H. JEWELL. WILLIAM M. J EVVELL. Witnesses:

J OHN L. J AOKSON, W. P. THORNTON.

